Give It Up Already!

This coming Wednesday is known as Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is a great way for everyone to put aside any obstacles in life that are a hindrance on your relationship with God so that you can truly focus and understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for us sinners. As Christians, giving one detail of our lives for forty days should be a walk in the park compared to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us.

The item in which you give up can vary greatly from person to person, but needs to be a personal obstacle in your life. Common things in which people give up in the past include social media, i.e. Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, etc., coffee, meat, chocolate or sweets, and Netflix. Now you may be thinking that these are all essential items in your daily routine, but if you were to replace the time spent acquiring or engaging in these things and devoted it to God, you would see how truly obsolete they are in comparison with the relationship you could have.

The item in which I have decided that has taken control of my life and that I am going to give up for forty days is homework… I wish! But seriously, the item in which I am giving up is makeup. This is a huge deal for me because makeup is what I use to mask my biggest insecurity, acne. Although it isn’t a complete cover for my insecurity it has been a safety blanket, and something I have relied on to feel better about myself. To sacrifice makeup I would be gaining thirty more minutes a day to devote to God, and hopefully confidence in myself. This is me, stepping out of my comfort zone, trusting in God, and sacrificing my self image for him.

Although this may seem like a miniscule and insignificant sacrifice to others, it is a big step for me. I encourage all of you to really examine your life and choose something that you use to block God and others around you, and give it up to him. He will protect you, and you will cherish the relationship you build.